Word of the Day, February 16, 2023

February 16, 2023 [The Free Dictionary]( Word of the Day [apex]( [Discuss]( Definition: (noun) The highest point. Synonyms: [acme]( [vertex]( [peak]( Usage: Though he was afraid of heights, he forced himself to climb to the roof's apex to fix the leak. Missing Idiom Contest The Free Dictionary has the largest collection of English idioms in the world. But we are always looking for more to add, and we want your help! Every so often we hear from users who have looked up an idiom on The Free Dictionary that it was not found in the database. Maybe it was some expression they heard at work, or some phrase they grew up hearing their grandmother say. If you know an idiom that isn't already defined on The Free Dictionary, [send it to us]( and you might win $150 USD. Complete English Spelling & Pronunciation Rules [Complete English Spelling & Pronunciation Rules] The latest volume in our best-selling Grammar Book series! Learn the rules and patterns that tell you exactly how any word should be spelled and pronounced. ✔ Go beyond "I before E except after C" and get all the rules and exceptions, all in one place, all explained in plain English. ✔ Simple tips and tricks to avoid the most common mistakes. [Buy now]( Idiom of the Day [blood in the water]( — The exposure of a competitive weakness in an opponent that arouses increased competitive aggression in others. Likened to the literal presence of blood in water that causes aquatic predators (such as sharks) to seek out and attack prey. ["More...]( [Idiom video]( Article of the Day The Aleppo Codex [Discuss]( The Aleppo Codex is one of the oldest manuscripts of the Masoretic Hebrew Bible. The scribe Shlomo ben Buya'a copied the text of the Codex circa 920 CE. It was delivered to the Karaite community of Jerusalem in the 11th century but was looted and taken to Cairo, Egypt. There, it was consulted by Maimonides, the most influential Jewish thinker of the Middle Ages. Later, it was taken to Aleppo, Syria, where the community guarded it zealously for 600 years. What happened to the Codex in 1947? [More...]( Daily Grammar Lesson Adjectival Adjuncts [Discuss]( Adjectival adjuncts are just adjectives that come immediately before the noun they describe. What are they are more commonly referred to as? [More...]( This Day in History Kyoto Protocol Comes into Force (2005) [Discuss]( The 1992 Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, produced a treaty aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in order to combat global warming. Representatives of 172 nations agreed to work toward the sustainable development of the planet, although most of the agreements were not legally binding. In 1997, an amendment was negotiated called the Kyoto Protocol, by which participating nations commit to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide. Which countries have not ratified the agreement? [More...]( Today's Birthday Kim Jong-Il (1941) [Discuss]( Despite rumors that he masterminded several terrorist bombings in the 1980s, Kim Jong-Il succeeded his late father as ruler of North Korea in 1994 and remained in power until his death in 2011. Although Kim took steps to improve international relations early in his rule, the country's continued pursuit of nuclear weapons technology soured its dealings with the West. Kim had a reputation for personal extravagance. What are some examples that have been cited as evidence of his excesses? [More...]( Today's Holiday Lithuania Independence Day [Discuss]( This is a national holiday in [Lithuania]( marking the [declaration of independence]( from Austrian, Prussian, and Russian occupation on February 16, 1918. Today, the anniversary is celebrated with festivals and fireworks, particularly in the capital city of [Vilnius](. [More...]( Quote of the Day [Discuss]( No man was ever yet a great poet, without being at the same time a profound philosopher. [Samuel Taylor Coleridge]( (1772-1834) Mobile apps from TheFreeDictionary.com [The Free Dictionary Classic Free App] The classic free version, downloaded more than 6 million times! - Multiple dictionaries, encyclopedias, and thesauruses in one place. - 14 languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Simplified Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, Norwegian, Greek, Arabic, Polish, Turkish, and Russian. - Online translations of English into more than 40 languages, plus dozens of other translation options. 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